Calcium-vitamin D & Periodontal Therapy for Improving Metabolic and Inflammatory Profile Among Pregnant Women

Women will receive conventional non-surgical periodontal therapy (PT), consisting of prophylactic dental polishing to remove the sticky bacterial film that forms on the teeth over time, scaling and root planing, as necessary throughout pregnancy, up to delivery

Women will receive conventional non-surgical PT delayed until after delivery.

participants will be advised to take two servings of a powdered milk-based drink enriched with calcium and vitamin D daily during breakfast and afternoon snack or supper to avoid concomitant intake of the prenatal iron supplements routinely prescribed for consumption with hot main meals (e.g. lunch or dinner). Women will be advised to consume 20 g of commercially available semi-skimmed milk powder (provided by the study) and one sachet with 500 IU of vitamin D3 and 1,2 g of a calcium supplement from milk extract (300 mg of calcium) twice a day.

Women will be advised to consume 20 g of commercially available semi-skimmed milk powder (provided by the study) and one sachet with flour (placebo).